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Sanna Kokkonen-White is a distinguished yoga teacher originally from Finland, now residing part-time in Bali, Indonesia. With a rich background in fitness and yoga, she encompasses various styles, bringing a unique blend of Ashtanga and Bhakti Yoga to her teachings. Sanna is an accomplished teacher who travels and instructs across Europe, particularly investing in yoga philosophy and mentoring others. Her commitment to animal welfare in Bali also highlights her compassionate nature, alongside her passion for Kirtan and spiritual growth through yoga.

Visit Sanna Here: https://www.skyogini.com/

Key Takeaways:

• Integration of Ashtanga and Bhakti Yoga: Sanna reveals how her practice and teachings combine the discipline of Ashtanga Yoga with the devotional aspects of Bhakti Yoga.
• Patience in Practice: Emphasizing the importance of patience, Sanna explains how this virtue has been a guiding force in her yoga journey.
• Holistic Healing through Yoga: Sanna discusses yoga as a tool for personal transformation, functioning as a pathway to overcoming mental challenges and deepening one’s spiritual practice.
• Community and Mentorship: Highlighting her role as a mentor, Sanna outlines how virtual and in-person interactions help her support others in their spiritual and personal journeys.

Discovering Yoga: The Bridge from Practice to Philosophy

In a world seemingly overwhelmed with fast-paced living and instant gratifications, finding deeper connections that fuel mindfulness and inner peace is a quest many modern-day seekers embark on. In her dialogue, Sanna Kokkonen-White reflects on her vibrant journey into the world of yoga, guiding readers through how yoga evolved from a physical exercise to a philosophical and spiritual lifeline. “I was like a fitness person actually before yoga came into the picture,” Sanna recalls, introducing us to the unexpected discovery of yoga led by her curiosity and transformative experiences.

Sanna, an erstwhile fitness enthusiast, embarked on her yoga journey during a time when fitness was defined by aerobics and high-impact routines. “I had a friend who found this new way to move… Ashtanga Yoga,” she shares, marking a pivotal segue in her life that nurtured mindfulness. This journey, beginning with Ashtanga, morphed over time as she embraced Bhakti Yoga’s devotional practices, harmonizing the chanting, singing, and spiritual teachings to nourish the mind and spirit. She stresses how each path of yoga offers unique insights and how her practice of random page-opening of Bhagavad Gita provides guidance in life’s battles: “I use it…rather than in a rigid way, you know.”

Harmonizing Ashtanga and Bhakti Yoga: A Tale of Two Practices

“Every road leads to Rome,” Sanna states, acknowledging the vast landscape of yoga and its numerous paths. Ashtanga and Bhakti, each representing distinct facets of yoga practice, offer individuals complementary experiences. Sanna articulates the pragmatic approach of Ashtanga: “It’s yoga that has taught me the patience,” correlating the demanding physical practice with cultivating mental patience and discipline.

Conversely, Bhakti Yoga emerges as an energetically liberating practice engaging the heart and spirit through chanting and devotion. This is made evident when she narrates her awe for Kirtan artist Vijay Krishna: “He was…living and breathing Bhakti totally.” The enchanting synergy between these two practices craft a holistic journey for seekers. They establish physical discipline through Ashtanga, which then transcends into devotional freedom with Bhakti, thereby illustrating yoga’s multidimensional essence.

Mentorship and Service: Cultivating Mindfulness and Patience

Through personal anecdotes, Sanna unfolds how her organic journey led her to become a mentor, offering teachings rooted in empathy and shared human experiences. She captures the depth of connection built in yoga communities, stating: “I feel I can help people on a deeper level.” Sanna’s mentorship transcends formal structure, manifesting in everyday engagements, highlighting the importance of service—a key aspect of yoga.

She emphasizes the practice of gratitude and external focus as pathways to healing: “If you can’t do anything else…how can I help someone else who’s suffering?” Insights from mentors like Lama Marut, who she fondly remembers, funnel through her teachings, establishing a lineage of wisdom and service. The continuous theme of patience surfaces yet again through these interactions, where Sanna shares her belief in engaging life’s challenges patiently through the disciplined practice of Ashtanga and the open-heartedness of Bhakti.

Sanna Kokkonen-White, with her nuanced experiences and teachings, paints a picture of yoga as both an immersive practice and a philosophical journey. The themes of Ashtanga and Bhakti, mentorship, and service, interwoven with patience, highlight a profound, ongoing dialogue between the self and a larger unity. Her stories, echoing with life lessons and transformative experiences, reiterate that yoga isn’t merely about physical postures or isolated practices, but a living, breathing path that molds the practitioner through tangible and intangible realms alike. As Sanna herself affirms, “Wherever I lay my hat, that’s my home,” grounding yoga in life’s myriad experiences, present in every step and breath we take.

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